Vincent Trocheck viewed as most likely to slot in at 3C on Rangers roster: poll

With the New York Rangers’ offseason in full swing, the question of who should slot in as the third-line center in 2025-26 continues to loom.

In a recent Forever Blueshirts fan poll, Vincent Trocheck emerged as the favorite, racking up 38.5 percent of the vote. The dual-option of Juuso Parssinen and Jonny Brodzinski followed at 28.8 percent, with Mika Zibanejad (21 percent) and Noah Laba (11.7 percent) rounding out the choices.

With a new coach in Mike Sullivan, several lineup combinations on the table and prospects fighting for a roster spot, the role of third-line center role remains one of the most intriguing decisions heading into the new season.

Trocheck leads the pack in 3C poll

Trocheck was the runaway winner in the Forever Blueshirts poll. Since arriving in New York, he’s been one of the Rangers’ most productive forwards. Outside of his 75-point breakout season with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18, Trocheck’s best hockey has come on Broadway.

The 32-year-old had 64 points in 2022-23 and followed with a career-high 77 points, including 52 assists, in 2023-24 — helping the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy as regular-season champions. He’s dominant in the face-off circle, finishing above 56 percent in each of his three seasons with the Rangers, including 59.3 percent last season. During the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he had 20 points in 16 games while averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time.

Skating between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, Trocheck helped form one of the NHL’s most effective lines. Panarin had a career year with 49 goals and 120 points, Trocheck had 25 goals and 77 points, and Lafreniere broke out with 28 goals and 57 points. Even during last year’s rocky season, the line still held a 51.18 percent expected goals share at 5-on-5 and outscored opponents 36-28 in 60 games together, per Natural Stat Trick.

Reliable defensively, hard forechecking, and lethal on draws — Trocheck is a near-perfect 3C on paper. He’s even played that role under Sullivan before, centering the third line for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

But the cost of breaking up that chemistry is steep. Unless someone like Brennan Othmann or Brett Berard is ready to fill a top-six wing spot, shifting Trocheck away from Panarin and Lafreniere could create more problems than it fills. And yes, Trocheck regressed slightly last season, but the dip wasn’t unique. Nearly every forward on the roster took a step back in 2024-25.

Other third-line center options in play for Rangers

Juuso Parssinen

Parssinen didn’t make a huge impact after being acquired in the Ryan Lindgren trade, spending most of March rotating in and out of the lineup. But after getting another opportunity in April, he made it count. Parssinen closed out the season with five points in his final three games. A three-point night against the Islanders and a goal and assist in Florida four days later earned Parssinen a two-year extension worth $1.25 million AAV. At 6-foot-3 with the ability to play center and wing, the Rangers hope Parssinen can build off his late-season momentum and carry it into training camp.

Jonny Brodzinski

Brodzinski isn’t the flashiest option, but he quietly put together his most complete NHL season in 2024-25. He finished with 19 points in 51 games, matching his career-high, while finally staying on the Rangers’ roster full time. A former Hartford Wolf Pack captain who can play center or wing, Brodzinski brings a two-way game that coaches trust. Whether Sullivan sees him as a full-time 3C or a steady depth option, he’s earned a real shot.

Mika Zibanejad

Zibanejad finished third in the fan poll. That’s not because fans see him as a third-line option, but because his position directly impacts the rest of the lineup. Zibanejad shifted to right wing late last season on a line with J.T. Miller at center and Will Cuylle on left wing. If Sullivan chooses to keep Zibanejad on the wing, it opens the door for someone like Trocheck, Parssinen or Brodzinski to take over at 3C. But if Zibanejad goes back to centering his own line, one of those players will likely get pushed out.

Noah Laba

Laba may have finished last in the fan poll, but the 21-year-old is far from irrelevant in the Rangers’ plans. After putting up 85 points during three seasons at Colorado College, Laba signed his entry-level contract and joined the Wolf Pack late in the AHL season. Laba projects as a reliable bottom-six center down the line, but for now, expect him to start 2025-26 in the AHL. He’s the kind of player who could force his way into the NHL conversation sooner than expected if injuries hit.